Medicare Clarified For You
Medicare can be very confusing, but we're here to help clarify it for you. We'll share the information you need so you can understand your healthcare options better.
Let's
make sense of it all
Part A:
Hospital/Inpatient Insurance
Part A helps pay for your care while you are in the hospital. It also pays some of the costs if you stay in a skilled nursing facility after a hospitalization or if you have a medical need for limited, skilled health care at home. You can’t be turned down because of your medical history or pre-existing illness.
Part B:
Hospital/Inpatient Insurance
Part B helps pay for doctors’ services, outpatient hospital care, and home health care that Part A does not pay for. It also provides coverage for laboratory tests, ambulance services, and many screenings and preventive services that can help you stay healthy, including a Welcome to Medicare Exam and Annual Wellness Visits. A monthly premium is charged for Part B services.
Part C:
Hospital/Inpatient Insurance
Advantage plans (sometimes called Part C) are private insurance plans that deliver Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Some of these plans also provide Medicare drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover additional services that Original Medicare does not pay for. For example, coverage for vision and hearing care. Most Medicare Advantage plans have a network of doctors and hospitals.
Part D:
Hospital/Inpatient Insurance
Medicare Part D helps pay for your prescription drugs. If you are eligible for Medicare Part A, Part B, or both, you are eligible to join a Part D plan. It's a private prescription drug insurance option that Medicare has approved and contracted with. It helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, may help lower your prescription drug costs, and may help protect against higher costs in the future. Most people can join or change Part D plans during the AEP (October 15th–December 7th), with coverage starting in January.
Medicare Contact Information
Keep track of Medicare benefits and services at:
Medicare Enrollment
If you are not drawing Social Security you can enroll in Medicare by doing the following 90 days prior to when you want your Part B(Medical) to start:
Register online at:
www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly
Call Social Security at
800-772-1213
Visit your local Social Security office and register in person.
Applying for Medicare Part B after 65:
If you have PART A (Hospital) but did not apply for your PART B (Medical) when you turned 65 because you were still working and covered under your employers group coverage or you were covered under your spouse’s group coverage because they were still working, here are the 2 forms you will need and instructions on what to do:
Have the company or HR department under which you have the group insurance coverage fill out the CMS-L564 Form
. This will show Social Security that you were covered since you were 65 under credible coverage. You can visit your local Social Security office with the completed form up to 90 days prior to you needing your Part B (Medical) to start.
Click below to get the form in English or Spanish.
You will also need to complete the CMS-40B form which is the application for your Part B (Medical) up to 90 days prior to you needing it to start.
Click below to get the form in English or Spanish, you an print off. You will turn this completed form along with the CMS-L564 completed form, into your local Social Security office. That's it!! Welcome to MEDICARE with your Part A and now your Part B referred to as ORIGINAL MEDICARE
Apply For Social Security
Benefits Online
To apply for Social security online, Click here
Medicare And You Handbook
Go here to Download
Replace A Medicare Card
Protect your Medicare card like it was a credit card.
To see how you can get it replaced, Click here
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
to order a replacement card to be sent in the mail.
Apply for Railroad
Retirement
Check eligibility or apply for Medicare by calling
877-772-5772 or go to www.rrb.gov
Extra Help With Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan Costs:
Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for Extra Help, also called LIS (Low Income Subsidy), for their prescription drug premiums if they have limited resources and income.
Note: This information may change so be sure to get updated information by calling 800-772-1213 or by going Here
Do You Need More Help?
Collette Ramsay-Taylor has a proven track record of helping clients with affordable life insurance, health insurance, Medicare, and tax-free retirement income using life insurance. She has helped more than 500 clients with income planning and safe retirement strategies. She is also passionate about teaching people actionable ways to save money and improve their lives.
Collette Ramsay-Taylor
Life Insurance & Medicare Broker
We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States Government or the Federal Medicare Program.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.